TLDR Topical tofacitinib may help regrow hair in children with alopecia totalis.
This case report highlights the potential effectiveness of topical tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, in treating pediatric alopecia totalis (AT), particularly in cases resistant to conventional therapies. A 7-year-old boy with AT showed significant hair regrowth after 4 months of treatment with topical tofacitinib and mometasone, following inadequate response to prednisolone and methotrexate. The treatment was well-tolerated with no adverse effects observed. The report suggests that topical JAK inhibitors could be a valuable addition to therapeutic options for pediatric AT, though further studies are needed to establish long-term safety and efficacy.
June 2024 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Tofacitinib is safe and effective for treating moderate-to-severe alopecia areata.
July 2022 in “International Journal of Trichology” Tofacitinib helped an 8-year-old child recover from a type of hair loss that is hard to treat.
130 citations
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February 2018 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Tofacitinib may help treat severe hair loss, but more research is needed.
238 citations
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November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Tofacitinib is effective and safe for severe hair loss, but full regrowth is less likely after 10 years of hair loss.
139 citations
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November 2016 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Tofacitinib helped regrow hair in most adolescents with alopecia areata, but more research is needed.
148 citations
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December 2018 in “Journal of autoimmunity” Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease causing patchy hair loss, often with other autoimmune disorders, but its exact causes are unknown.
48 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Topical corticosteroids are the best initial treatment for children's alopecia areata.
40 citations
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December 2016 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” JAK inhibitors show promise for treating skin and hair disorders but need more research on long-term safety and effectiveness.
49 citations
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May 2018 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Applying 2% tofacitinib cream helped some children with severe hair loss grow back hair.
July 2023 in “IntechOpen eBooks” New treatments for alopecia areata show promise, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
